The Bankiewicz laboratory is a translational neuroscience group. We create novel approaches for the delivery of therapeutic agents to specific target regions within the brain to develop effective treatments for brain diseases. Our work can be applied to many neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, brain tumors, and Alzheimer's disease. Our research scientists work together to advance our goals and work with a world-renowned group of collaborators. Many of our ongoing projects are described on our research page. Additionally, the media section contains videos, press coverage, and a glossary of common terms used in our research. Please contact us for more information.
The image above shows an example of image-guided delivery of gene therapy in a patient with Parkinson’s disease.

This video shows the delivery of AAV2-GDNF, a therapy we are developing to treat Parkinson's disease, into the putamen of a parkinsonian monkey. The infusion cannula has been positioned using the mounted aiming device, and its tip has been lowered into the putamen. An MRI contrast reagent, gadoteridol, is infused with AAV2-GDNF. The spreading white signal in the MRI is the infusion. The image then zooms in on the putamen. An overlay of GDNF expression onto the MRI demonstrates the strong correspondence of the infusion area with the eventual expression of GDNF protein.